oolqney



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sham', 1.

` M.C0LONEY.

Swimming Apparatus.

- ve/Zim P-at e n te d P N. PEERS.'PHOT0LJTHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON D C 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

" (N0 Model.)

" M. G0 Swimming LONEY.

Apparatus.

Patented Dec. 2151880.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. M. CGLO'N EY. Swimming App Matus.

,669. Patented Dec. 21, |880,

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N.PErERS. PMoTo-LITHBQRAPHER. wASHmGIoN, n. C,

IINTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.

MYRON COLONEY, OF HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELIZABETH THOMPSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,669, dated December 21, 1880. Application filed November 2, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, MYRON UoLoNnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the count-y of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Swimming Apparatus, of which the following :is a specification.

The subject of my invention is an apparatus adapted to .be anchored or otherwise secured in open water, and provided with one or more galleries at a limited depth below the surface,

to accommodate bathers and enable persons to learn to swim without danger.

The invention further consists in acombination, with the aforesaid submerged circular galleries, of a system of rotatable horizontal beams with pendent cords, to which learners may be attached by suitable girdles or clothing, and thereby be supported in the water in proper position for learning to swim.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of the apparatus in use. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof.

A represents a slatted bottom, covering the whole area of the apparatus, and adapted to be submerged three or four feet below the surface.

B is an outer Vannular water-tight compartment, the top of which forms a deck.

D D D are water-tight compartments, forming a central deck.

C represents an inner annular gallery or swimming course, the bottom of which is formed and constituted by the slatted bottom of the apparatus. The said bottom A also extends horizontally beyond the outer flotationcompartments, B, so as to form an annular gallery, E, surrounding the outer ann'ular deck, and protected by a bulwark, E', of wire-nettin g, rising nearly or quite to the level of the water and extending` completely around the apparatus. This serves to prevent swimmers stepping off from the slatted bottom of the outer gallery into deep water, and also protects them from any possible danger from sharks or from the surf. 5o

H H represent projecting ends of 4the timbers, forming the slatted bottom A for the support of stanchions or braces I. by which the wire-netting E is firmly secured.

F is a central post, extended upward a sufticient distance to receive a bell-shaped socket,

Gr, in which are iixed a number of horizontal radial arms, J, sustained by guys or stay-rods L, and extending to a sufficient length to be over about the center of the outer annular gal- 6o lery, E. From the extremities of the arms J depend cords or wires L', passing over pulleys M attached to the'arms J, and provided at their inner ends with counter-weights N.

L2 L2 represent a second series of cords de- 65 pending from the arms J over the center of the inner annular course, C. The said. cords may be fixed in any position to which they are adj usted by clamps O, and are provided at their extremities with snap-hooks P, adapted to be 7o snapped into suitable rings or belts around the waists of the swimmers.

At c is shown a wire-woven carpet, covering the slat bottom of the inner swimmingcourse, C.

In operation the arms J are carried around freely by the action of the swimmers, and in this manner a large number of learners may be taught to swim without risk in any body of open water, and healthful sport may be fur- 8o nished even for expert swimmers. The outer gallery, E, affords room for these to swimV in the outer surf without danger, while the inner annular course, C, is adapted for the accommodation of younger or less venturesome persons, who desire perfectly still water, wh ich is equally pure and constantly changing.

The apparatus may be anchored in open water of any depth over two and one-half feet, thus being floating or portable, or it may be 9o made stationary and built around a pile driven in at the site of its intended location. The floating and portable form of the apparatus is, however, preferred.

Having thus described my invention, the 3. The combination of one or more annular following is what I claim as new therein and galleries, central post, F, rotary arms J, and desire to secure by Letters Patent: pendent cords L L', substantially as and for l. The swimming apparatus consisting of the purpose set forth. 5 concentric annular galleries'to be submerged a limited distance below the surface, as and MYRON COLONEY' for the purpose set forth. Witnesses 2. The combination of the otation-cham- H. H. BUNNELL, bers B D and annular galleries C E, substan- J. E. LOMAS.

1o tially as and for the purpose set forth. 

